Today it was pretty humid in Paris, this is the start of the humid season that lasts until the end of August. In the humid season I wear short sleeve dress shirts, I skip the undershirt, and I for sure don’t wear any sportcoats or suit jackets. I figure we’re allowed a 3 month reprieve. So I always find it funny when in the middle of summer there are men wearing suits. Or even funnier, carrying them over their shoulder. Call me naive, but I think jackets should be used to keep you warm. Anyway, this sets the stage for today.
I was working with my coworker at the computer. He had worn his vest because we were at the client’s office. I hadn’t worn a vest, not only for the previously mentioned reasons but because I didn’t know I was going to be at the client’s office. It turns out the client is very casual so it’s not a problem. So my coworker removed his vest because he was hot.
He set up the printer on the computer and then said he’d show me where it was. So we get up and are at the doorway, ready to go into the hall when he says “Je vais prendre ma veste” (“I’m going to get my jacket”). So he goes back to our chairs and gets his jacket and puts it on, and then walks into the hallway.
Why?
It’s pretty common for the jacket-wearers. They take it off while sitting down but then put it on when they leave the room. It’s quite funny. It’s like there is a dress code or something. A natural instinct. Maybe it comes from the middle ages when people had to put on armor before going outside. Often, on the hottest days of summer, men will put on the jacket before going outside to lunch. Of course as soon as they get to the restaurant they take it off and put it on the back of the chair. But it must be worn when walking!
After a coworker complained about it being so hot once, on the way back from lunch, I asked him “Why do you wear the jacket if you’re hot?” His answer? “Because I don’t want anyone to see the sweat rings on my shirt.” I think that’s the best reason I’ve ever heard for wearing a jacket. Unfortunately it didn’t occur to him that if he weren’t wearing the jacket in the first place he wouldn’t have the sweat rings!!!!
My father is the same way actually. When he worked in an office as a IT guy doing programing, he would take his jacket off when sitting but put it back on as soon as he was up and around, even though it would make him sweat like crazy. Now he’s an archery coach, his life long dream! But I can still remember my mother lamenting about having to dry clean his jackets everyday instead of every couple.